The Night Before Christmas Read Online Free PDF

the knuckles, and before they knew it the partners were separated from their sack and shoved into the corner. “That poker of yours,” complained the weaver,“what’s it made of? My wife bought one last year—hers not so painful . . .”
    The victor promptly untied the sack and was trying to identify the object inside. “Goodness, it’s a whole pig,” she concluded delightedly, eliciting a new torrent of grief from the corner. “Come, let’s take it back,” the weaver was encouraging
kum
. The partners stepped forward, full of fresh resolve, and the lady lifted her poker—but at that moment Chub stepped leisurely out of the sack, stretching as though after a good sleep.
    â€œGoodness, and that stupid cow kept saying it was a pig,”
kum
muttered. “How did he get into the sack—look at the size of him! Goodness take me—it’s
kum
!” he exclaimed, recognizing Chub.
    â€œWho did you think it was?” Chub chuckled. “But don’t lose hope: there was something squirming around underneath me. Could be a pig or piglet.”
    The partners attacked the sack from one side, the lady from the other, and the battle would have resumed if the deacon, seeing that he had nowhere to hide, hadn’t shown his burning face. The wife let go of the leg she was pulling; the weaver muttered somethingabout the end of the world; Chub was stunned. “The deacon, in Solokha’s sack! She must have had two men stashed in each sack all that time. And I thought she received only me . . . Devil take that woman!”
    The girls were a little disappointed to find one of the sacks gone, but the other was still there, and they hoisted it on the sled and raced over the new snow. One or the other of the girls would jump on top of the village head, who had resolved to take the abuse stoically and only hiccupped. He was afraid the girls would think he was a devil, take fright, and run away, leaving him in the snow until the next morning. Finally, with laughter and giggles, the girls flung open the door to Oksana’s house and dragged the sack inside. The hiccups that tormented the village head for an hour turned into a loud cough; the girls ran out the door screaming.
    â€œWhy on earth are you running like the house is on fire?” Chub asked them, walking in.
    â€œAh, father, there’s a man in that sack!” Oksana cried out.
    â€œAnd where did you find it?”
    â€œOn the road, where the blacksmith left it.”
    â€œSo what are you screaming for? Let’s take alook.Sir, why don’t you come out? Sorry for not addressing you by name.”

    The village head climbed out. The girls gasped. “Right,” Chub thought, “of course, just like I said: a man in each sack. Solokha, Solokha . . .”
    â€œWell,” the village head addressed Chub after a pause. “How’s the weather outside? Cold?”
    â€œChilly, but not too bad. Tell me, how do you polish your boots—with lard or with tar?” He meant to ask how the village head had found himself in the sack, but somehow his lips formed an entirely different question. “Tar’s better,” the village head replied, pulling on his hat. “Well, so long, Chub,” and he strode out of the house. Chub stood gaping. “How come I asked him about the boots? But Solokha, what a devil of a woman! Look at her—a saint! Never touches meat on a holiday!”
    But let us leave Chub to lament Solokha’s betrayal and follow Vakula, because it’s getting late—it must be after eight.
    *   *   *
    A t first Vakula felt uneasy flying so high above the ground; passing under the crescent moon, he actuallyhad to duck. But little by little he recovered and began to tease the devil, who sneezed and hiccupped every time Vakula touched his little cypress cross.
    Everything glittered in the bright